Mitchell Vande Sompel is a player who has seen his draft stock continue to climb as the season has gone on.

Part of the reason for his exposure no doubt is playing for the nation’s top junior team in the Oshawa Generals. Vande Sompel was more than a bit piece though for the Memorial Cup winning squad and was a key cog in the lineup.

An offensive defenseman by trade Vande Sompel put up 63 points in 58 games to lead Generals defensemen and fourth league wide. He is an outstanding skater as he has great acceleration as well as exceptional lateral quickness. He moves the puck well and is effective jumping into the rush.

While he can struggle defensively at times, as many smaller defensemen do, he positions himself well and because of his skating ability is able to close gaps in a hurry.

Scouts Honour:

“If any scouts were on the fence about Vande Sompel going into the Memorial Cup, I think he did his best to sway them. He had an absolutely fantastic tournament, showcasing his natural offensive ability, but also the improvements that he’s made defensively. His engagement in his own end was very promising. He did a terrific job of using his outstanding mobility to separate forwards from the puck down low. Scouts like winners and all it takes is one team to be sold on the fact that size won’t hurt him from being a 5 on 5 contributor.”

… his skating is elite as he possesses great lateral quickness and is extremely crisp on his edges .. also an outstanding backwards skater who uses his stick almost like an anchor to give him even more power and leverage .. his speed is generated through a series of rapid-fire crossovers .. very agile and quick off the mark in spite of a shorter stride .. powered by a well-balanced and strong lower body however he is not very built up top .. consequently, he can struggle at times along the boards defensively .. his lack of upper-body strength hurts his game, however due to his skating he is able to close gaps quickly which allows him to get on a puckcarrier swiftly .. understands his play inside his own zone .. can quickly side-step an opposing forward and make a quick outlet pass .. an efficient puckmover who doesn’t over-handle the puck .. locates options and has a good sense for when to jump into the rush .. boasts strong offensive capabilities including a clever and sneaky snap shot .. patrols the line effectively and makes quality plays …

“Vande Sompel really impressed me this season with his play in his own zone as someone who coach Smith could use in a multitude of situations while also taking advantage of his strong puck skills and vision with the puck. His versatility and work ethic are very promising. He is a great first pass blue liner who follows the play up ice and consistently contributes offensively, mind you not always in a flashy manner. His skating is absolutely beautiful as he is ultra-mobile and generates good amounts of speed with very little effort. His size and lack of physical play holds him back from being higher on my list.”

Mitchell Vande Sompel is a good passer, with excellent vision. He has good hockey IQ and makes smart plays with his breakout pass, and on the powerplay. He is also a very good stickhandler who can lead the rush, skate the puck out of danger in the defensive zone, or can play with poise on the blue line and be a real quarterback on the powerplay. His agility allows him to walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes. Vande-Sompel also has a good slapshot and wrist shot with an excellent release. He understands the importance of keeping his shot low, making sure he gets it through to the net, and generating tip-in and rebound opportunities for the talented Generals forwards.

Risk/Reward Analysis:

NHL potential:

Strengths:

Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:

Adding strength and muscle

Playing more physical

Fantasy Potential:

Offensive: 8/10

Defensive: 6/10

NHL Comparable:

Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang comes to mind in terms of NHL comparables due to size and skating ability as well as being a #58-wearing, offense-first defenseman. Letang was a 3rd round draft choice who faced similar questions as Vande Sompel does.

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